Baxter International Inc vs Bristol-Myers Squibb Co — how do they compare? Baxter International Inc trades at $21.78 (market cap $11.26B), while Bristol-Myers Squibb Co trades at $57 (market cap $116.30B). The key difference: Bristol-Myers Squibb Co is far larger — about 10.3× Baxter International Inc's market cap, and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co pays the higher dividend (4.42%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BAX | BMY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $11.26B | $116.30B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $29.22 | $62.37 |
52-Week Low | $15.80 | $42.60 |
Enterprise Value | $18.93B | $152.24B |
Dividend Yield | 0.92% | 4.42% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Baxter International (BAX) trades at $22.57, down 0.22% on the day, with mixed technical signals showing a bullish moving average trend but neutral oscillators. The company reported Q1 2026 earnings beat with $0.36 EPS versus $0.31 expected, though net income margin remains negative at -9.7%. Recent news highlights upcoming Q2 earnings call and sustainability initiatives, while analyst consensus sits at $22.67 price target with 42% buy ratings.
BAX faces fundamental challenges with negative profitability metrics and volatile cash flow, but valuation appears reasonable with P/S of 1.02. The stock offers potential upside to analyst targets if operational improvements materialize, though investors must weigh high debt levels and inconsistent earnings performance against turnaround prospects in the medical technology sector.
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) trades at $59.34, up 3.06% today, with a bullish technical signal and consistent earnings beats. The stock shows strong profitability with a 15.01% net margin and 38.84% ROE, though debt levels have risen. Recent FDA acceptance for mezigdomide in multiple myeloma highlights pipeline progress. Analysts are mixed with a $60 consensus target, slightly above current price.
BMY offers value with a P/E of 16.62 and a safe 4.3% dividend yield, but faces patent cliff risks and pricing pressures. Earnings growth and pipeline execution are key catalysts, while high debt and competitive threats require monitoring. The stock presents a balanced opportunity for income-focused investors with moderate risk tolerance.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Baxter offers a variety of medical instruments and supplies to caregivers. It enhanced its portfolio of hospital-focused offerings by acquiring Hillrom in late 2021. Legacy Baxter offers tools to help patients with acute and chronic kidney failure. It also sells a variety of injectable therapies for use in care settings, such as IV pumps, and administrative sets.
Read more on BAX →Bristol-Myers Squibb discovers, develops, and markets drugs for various therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, cancer, and immune disorders. A key focus for Bristol is immuno-oncology, where the firm is a leader in drug development. Unlike some of its more diversified peers, Bristol has exited several nonpharmaceutical businesses to focus on branded specialty drugs, which tend to support strong pricing power.
Read more on BMY →